Monthly Archives: November 2015

I’ve not managed to get out into the Park for the past few days – weather, family visiting and Bird Club stuff, all conspiring against me. I did see though that my birding neighbour, Lee, has posted a couple of good records over the past few days – Goosander and Little Egret. The latter has been very scarce in the Park over the summer. There was a nice flock of Long-tailed Tit along The Street the other day, as I made my way back from the allotments and the birds are busy emptying my feeders in the garden. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of Blackbirds of late – some are busy finishing off the last of my cooking apples in the garden right now. I was looking at a similar flock the other day in Salthouse and was delighted to fine the reported male Ring Ouzel in their midst! It’s still possible that there may be the odd bird hanging around in the parish – or perhaps something even rarer in the thrush line..!

In complete contrast to yesterday, this mornings walk was enjoyed under blue skies and warm sunshine. There wasn’t anything of particular note, the most interesting birds being a couple of Egyptian Geese, grazing with the Greylags – the first I’ve seen in the Park since the end of the summer. We did encounter a nice ‘mixed flock’ in the Great Wood, which included four Tit species, Treecreeper, Nuthatch & Goldcrest. A nearby Great Spotted Woodpecker looked absolutely gorgeous, illuminated by the dappled sunlight. In our two hour round trip we managed to rack up a total of 54 species.

It drizzled nearly all the time I was out this morning. I went, more in hope than expectation, to look for Sunday’s Siberian Chiffchaff – alas, no sign. I did manage to find a pair of Yellowhammer though – the first I’ve seen in the Park for months. I also had my first Woodcock and Brambling of this winter period. All the birds were in or around the coverts along the Weaver’s Way. The winter thrush flocks have increased, with similar numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbird in evidence. There was nothing new on the Lake but three Bullfinch, in the hedge up The Street, was a nice conclusion to a rather damp morning.

Despite the forecast of ‘cloudy & overcast’, it was actually pouring down by the time we got into the Park this morning. We made our way down to the Lake just as the Cormorants started leaving their roost – I counted 26 in total. Neil noticed a duck sp flying off, it was a male Goosander, which did a circuit of the Lake before heading off to the north west. There was the usual selection of wildfowl including a single Little Grebe and a pair of Mandarin. There’s a noticeable increase in the number of Blackbirds about, we counted at least 25. A flock of 9 Golden Plover flew over the sheep fields as we approached the track behind the church. As we headed towards the Great Wood, a small pale bird got up from the dead nettles at the side of the track and flew into the nearby Sycamore. A quick look through the bins and it was obviously a ‘Phyllos’. Chiffchaff came to mind, but this bird was way too pale – washed-out buff below and greyish-brown above with noticeable green fringes to the wings and tail, a hint of a wing mark, clean, thin buff ‘super’, dirty cheeks and black bill and legs. As we watched, it flew back down to the side of the track to feed several times – giving excellent views, albeit in very overcast/dark conditions. It called just a couple of times, a soft chirp-like noise. Pretty confident that this was a Siberian Chiffchaff and another possible ‘first’ for Felbrigg? Unfortunately photography was virtually impossible as it got darker and started to hail!

Canada Goose, Felbrigg Lake – is it my imagination or does this look a little on the small side?

With a ‘no show’ of the Glossy Ibis at the roost last night, we were up early to see if, by any chance, it had slipped in undetected. The Cormorants were already leaving their perches as we approached at around half past seven. There was no sign of the bird so we decided to check out it’s known feeding spots – no luck here either. After a week in residence, I think it may now have departed – what a pity. Plenty of small birds about including several Siskin, Bullfinch and Nuthatch as well as a group of five Fieldfare flying over. Three Buzzard were over Common Plantation, including a rather pale ‘continental type’ bird with pale underparts, upper wing panels and upper tail coverts. There were plenty of Pink-feet flying to their feeding grounds. On the Lake, the usual selection of commoner species, though no sign of the Goldeneye or Mandarin but two Canada Geese were present. Is it just my imagination or do they look a little on the small side?

Following reports that the Glossy Ibis hadn’t been seen since it flew north, mid-morning, we went down tonight to see if it came back to roost. Despite being in position by four o’clock and staying until it got dark, there was no sign! There was a maximum count of thirty one Cormorant and four Mandarin did a fly-past in the gloom but didn’t land. On the way home two Barn Owl were in a dead tree on the edge of the shelter belt and a calling Tawny Owl was nicely silhouetted in trees at the end of the Deer Park.

It was the NENBC mid-week walk at Felbrigg this morning and I was hopeful that we would be able to catch up with the Glossy Ibis. The twenty or so participants made their way straight down to the Lake, noting the two immature Goldeneye amongst the flock of Tufted Duck, as we passed by. We assembled on the bank, overlooking the muddy footpath, and it wasn’t long before the bird emerged from the surrounding vegetation to feed out in the open. Everyone enjoyed good views before we finally moved off across the dam and around the western edge of the Lake. The cafe being closed 😦 we carried on through the Great Wood, before finally returning to the Sexton’s Lodge car park. A Peregrine over the wood was a pleasing conclusion to the walk.